Crypto Art Discourse and Tokenization of Art 04

Crypto Art Discourse and Tokenization of Art 04 (by Dragan Z/M Ilic)

Ilic boldly, intuitively and symbolically tackles the complexities of intertwining art and commerce in a clear, meaningful, and direct assemblage style permeated with real-life risks and uncertainties related to actual value, financial investment, the cost of producing art, pricing policy and evaluation of artworks. He cleverly and critically underscores the precarious position of artists in the digital marketplace and society in general in the 21st century, where mechanical, electronic, and digital reproduction has become the standard and the norm. Simultaneously, the artist plans to sell his unique “assemblage” art objects on the art market along with his “private” information (contained and stored in his elaborately embellished iPhone), offering this as unique added value. Furthermore, this unusual artwork contains the presentation of digital information that exclusively exposes his personal lifestyle, consumer preferences, and communication patterns to potential buyers and/or art collectors, alongside precious information about his artwork that can be accessed through the repeated practical utilization of his functioning iPhone – cum “tokenized” unique art object.

This is an ongoing project and preoccupation that Ilic has extended to the year 2025, which most recently includes two of his iPads that have also been subjected to his exclusive artistic interventions and embellishment.

This artwork is presented here in a sequence of 15 photographs from January 2025.